By Chris Burton Last updated: 4th July 2008
Manchester City have told Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho that they will not wait much longer for a decision on his future.
The Blues have been tracking the Barca superstar since the end of last season and are believed to have held discussions with the Brazilian's representatives on at least one occasion.
A deal is thought to have already been agreed with his current employers, and City are now waiting to hear back from the player himself.
However, with reports on Thursday suggesting that the former World Player of the Year is closing in on a move to Italian giants Milan, City's patience is wearing thin.
With Mark Hughes keen to press on with his summer transfer plans, the club's executive chairman Garry Cook admits that the Premier League side will turn their attentions elsewhere should the saga continue to drag on with no apparent end in sight.
"We definitely don't want to be sitting waiting for a decision from Ronaldinho," he said in the Daily Mail.
"A mutual decision has to be made. We are setting our own timeline.
"We're not going to sit and wait. This is too big a football club for that."
Cook is refusing to give up hope, though, that an agreement can be reached and believes that City are now a attractive proposition for the world's best players.
"Ronaldinho wants to be in the best league with a big club," Cook added.
"There is no hiding the fact that success for this club is imminent."

Beckham - Henry isn't a cheat
League One Round Up - 21st November
Championship Round Up - 21st November
League Two Round Up - 21st November
Tottenham v Wigan - 2nd Half
Tottenham v Wigan - 1st Half
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Fuller and Sorensen
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan - Defoe
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 17:00 | Udinese vs Livorno |
| 19:45 | Genoa vs Sampdoria |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 14:00 | Atalanta vs Roma |
| 14:00 | Bari vs Siena |
| 14:00 | Cagliari vs Juventus |
| 14:00 | Chievo vs Palermo |
| 14:00 | Inter Milan vs Fiorentina |
| 14:00 | Lazio vs Bologna |
| 14:00 | Parma vs Napoli |
| 19:45 | Catania vs AC Milan |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 17:00 | AC Milan vs Sampdoria |
| 19:45 | Juventus vs Inter Milan |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| 14:00 | Bologna vs Udinese |
| 14:00 | Fiorentina vs Atalanta |
| 14:00 | Genoa vs Parma |
| 14:00 | Livorno vs Chievo |
| 14:00 | Napoli vs Bari |
| 14:00 | Palermo vs Cagliari |
| 14:00 | Siena vs Catania |
| 19:45 | Roma vs Lazio |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Livorno 2 - 1 Genoa | |
| AC Milan 4 - 3 Cagliari | |
| Palermo 1 - 1 Catania | |
| Roma 3 - 1 Bari | |
| Napoli 0 - 0 Lazio | |
| Sampdoria 2 - 1 Chievo | |
| Juventus 1 - 0 Udinese | |
| Siena 0 - 2 Atalanta | |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Bologna 1 - 3 Inter Milan | |
| Fiorentina 2 - 3 Parma | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Bari 1 - 0 Livorno | |
| Bologna 3 - 1 Palermo | |
| Genoa 4 - 2 Siena | |
| Cagliari 2 - 0 Sampdoria | |
| Parma 2 - 0 Chievo | |
| Inter Milan 1 - 1 Roma | |
| Udinese 0 - 1 Fiorentina | |
| Lazio 1 - 2 AC Milan | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Italy Serie A | |
| Catania 0 - 0 Napoli | |
| Atalanta 2 - 5 Juventus | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Milan | 13 | 32 |
| 2 | Juventus | 13 | 27 |
| 3 | AC Milan | 13 | 25 |
| 4 | Sampdoria | 13 | 24 |
| 5 | Parma | 13 | 23 |
| 6 | Fiorentina | 13 | 21 |
| 7 | Genoa | 13 | 20 |
| 8 | Cagliari | 13 | 19 |
| 9 | Napoli | 13 | 19 |
| 10 | Bari | 13 | 18 |
| 11 | Roma | 13 | 18 |
| 12 | Palermo | 13 | 17 |
| 13 | Chievo | 13 | 15 |
| 14 | Udinese | 13 | 15 |
| 15 | Lazio | 13 | 12 |
| 16 | Bologna | 13 | 12 |
| 17 | Atalanta | 13 | 12 |
| 18 | Livorno | 13 | 12 |
| 19 | Catania | 13 | 9 |
| 20 | Siena | 13 | 6 |
Barca and Real both won, Gers closed the gap on Celtic while Lyon and Marseille drew 5-5.
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Barca were stunned by a late leveller, Gers' match was abandoned while Inter march on in Serie A.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic could yet return to Italy before he retires, according to his agent Mino Raiola.
Filippo Inzaghi is hoping to be offered the opportunity to see out his playing days at AC Milan.
AC Milan edged a seven-goal thriller against Cagliari, while Francesco Totti was the hero for Roma.
Reports in Italy suggest Arsenal are preparing an approach for Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini.
Leonardo has reiterated that Gennaro Gattuso will not be leaving AC Milan in the January transfer window.